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Role of faith in coping with Newtown school shooting

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    Rabbi Evan Moffic, Father Jonathan Morris discuss faith

  • Duration 5:41
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Well as the entire country comes to grips with the mass shooting in Newtown Connecticut we're getting some new video.

Into our newsroom.

People from new town -- probably from some of the surrounding areas as well.

Who are gathering outside of this saint rose of Lima Catholic Church.

Where people are leaving flowers stuffed animals notes to all of the victims one person left a note.

On a candle that reads may you rest in peace gone too soon.

Little angels of god.

Let's talk about the role that faith plays in coping with the terrible tragedy like this joining us now as rabbi -- -- Of congregations so lay in Chicago Illinois and Fox News contributor religion contributor Father Jonathan Morris and John and I can't tell you how grateful -- -- to both the view.

For coming on in and helping us through these difficult times and and father Jonathan I imagine there are a lot of people who might not ordinarily -- but who are praying a lot right now that's right -- no doubt -- It's an amazing natural reaction to tragedy.

The same -- there's people who are saying of course how could -- good and all powerful god allow this to happen.

And the answers we don't know for sure because god could intervene if he is all powerful.

But what helps me is to look at it from a different perspective and that is why would god allow free will.

And I believe it's.

A very simple explanation.

Because with that free will.

We have an opportunity.

-- well.

And most people do it pretty well.

And some people unfortunately take -- free will and turned against the very people that got his loved so deeply to create us and to give us this great.

Rabbi -- -- the parent yourself of young children and I am too I'm still in the state of shock and I imagine.

People all over the country are how do you get past the shock and how do you begin to search for comfort in a time like this.

It's incredibly hard I I I'm in that state of shock as well.

I think what father Jonathan just that is very profound and in Jewish tradition we have an idea that.

At times -- tragedy god cries alongside us.

And we have to simply draw from our reservoir of faith.

And be honest at the answers we don't know but also to bring as much comfort to our kids and to say we do everything we can to keep you safe.

We do everything we can.

To make sure that something like this doesn't happen.

But there is tragedy in the world and we give them hope.

With our presence with our prayers.

Father Jonathan what are we keep seeing.

As the president said yesterday too many times these kinds of things happening -- Well first I just love what the rabbi said that guy prize along with thoughts and when we see this happening often as you mentioned break we asked the question why.

And that answer to -- that question is profound because we see it.

Happening in our society that seems to be so affluent so good so so human so developed.

And I think it goes back once again to our ability to choose to either love or to be selfish.

-- got treat us he entered into a covenant with Dawson said I love you not his objects but as beings with a spark of divinity.

And love is so good that I'm gonna give it she was a precious gift to be used however you wish because -- -- -- have a relationship with you.

We could get into whether or not there are cultural development that are making this more happen more often than before whether it's guns whether it's this whether it's that.

Is now is not the time now's the time to hug.

Now -- -- time to be close and now it's time to make a promise I will never use my free will to hurt another person.

Here we are tonight is the last night of -- rabbi -- -- and as my family lit our.

But no -- last night I couldn't help but but think that we were also lighting candles for the victims in Connecticut.

-- you know at this time of year we're so close to Christmas as well is there -- prayer.

That you could share with us that you could share with the audience that might help us right now.

Well there is a prayer.

Of hope you know the one of the prayers we say -- -- as we thank god.

For the miracles that we're done for generations past and for the miracle that god does for us today.

And as I heard your last story about these heroic teachers.

And what they did to me.

There modern Mac of these in a way they performed miracles.

And one of the lessons of Honda got we light more candles each night and tonight is the last night and so.

That gives us hope.

There are people out there who -- who comfort who fight for life and I think.

Those are the people that make the choices.

For good so in effect we thank god for the miracles of the people we have today and the comfort that we can bring to one another.

Thank you for that father Jonathan.

Last word couple seconds left.

You were your thoughts as we as we come up on the Christmas holiday.

Well you know people were watching this all over this country are asking themselves what can I do.

And we can all do something in this age of mass media and social media we can all reach out the people we love whether there next to us are far away and say that I love you.

That's what the great gift of jesus' birth brought to us -- we believe as Christians it's what we all of us believers.

Believe that god has love -- we can love in return.

Thank you both so much father John and Harris and rabbi Evan Moftec.

Congregations who -- in Chicago.

Thank you get.

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